Gas fired broiler



Aug. 11, 1959 J. A. DEL QFRANVCIA- GAS FIRED BROILER Filed April 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6,024. A. 054. Fu/va/A,

Aug. 11, 1959 J. A. DEL FRANCIA GAS FIRED BROILER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed A ril 7, 1958 ('10s:- A. D51. Flew/cm,

INVENTOR.

GAS FIRED BROILER Joel Alfred Del Francia, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 7, 1958, Serial No. 726,965

14 Claims. (Cl. 99-443) This invention relates generally to improvements in gas fired cooking broilers particularly adapted to home use, and having grills upon which edibles are to be cooked and desirably char broiled. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the problem of making a gas fired broiler unit absolutely safe for installation in any home and especially as built into a wooden kitchen counter or other convenient place.

As presented, the problem is to construct the broiler in such a manner that there will be no danger whatsoever of fire or heat being transmitted to the wooden counter through the broiler housing walls from the firebox carried within the housing interior. Also, and in addition there is the problem of minimizing smoke generation arising from burning of grease within the broiler, the undesirability of same being obvious, especially where the broiler is not hooded so as to conduct smoke and heat upwardly from the kitchen.

According to the principles and objects of the invention the present improved gas fired broiler is constructed in such a way as to overcome the problems mentioned above, making possible the provision of a broiler unit absolutely fire safe and unobjectionable from the standpoint of smoke formation, and therefore resulting in a unit which for the first time meets all the qualifications and specifica- States Patent tions for home installation. More specifically, the broiler incorporates in its construction an upright housing normally fully insulated, a firebox structure within the housing and including a gas burner, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, bafiie means underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and upright panel means between the firebox and upright housing walls, these panels forming passages openly com municating between the lower interior of the housing and the overlying grill and extending vertically at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams, of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing. Such entering cool air remains cool within the lower in terior of the housing where it is protected from downward heat radiation by the bafiie means thereabove, the air then passing upwardly between the housing and the firebox structure within the inter-panel spaces so as to sweep upwardly and outwardly heat in those spaces, directing same against the overlying grill, whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler.

' It is a particular feature of the invention that the firebox structure includes means overlying the gas burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, such means preferably comprising refractory bodies in a bed overlying the burner, the operation of the latter being absolutely fool proof in view of the provision of V-shaped receptacles directly overlying the burner ports for receiving droppings such as grease and dust from the refractory bodies to prevent clogging ice of the ports, these receptacles deflecting but not blocking upward escape of the burner gas flames. In addition thereto, and to minimize in the first instance the dropping of grease downwardly upon the refractory bodies, the overlying grill is variably tiltable to drain grease to one side of the upwardly projected area of the firebox structure, a grease receiving tray being located in the path of the upwardly circulating cool air so that grease received therein will remain out of direct exposure to the heat of the firebox structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing of the front, side and top exterior of the broiler;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly broken away to show the interior construction of the broiler;

Fig. 3 is a vertical side elevation taken in section through the broiler;

- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

i Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective showing of certain nested broiler elements.

In the drawings, the broiler unit generally designated at 10 is shown to include insulated side, rear and bottom walls 11, 12 and 13, each of which includes spaced metal sheets 14 between which rock or glass wool insulation 15 is filled. The front wall panel 16 of the broiler contains an opening 17 laterally opposite the lower interior 18 of the housing, and through which cool air streams are received during operation of the broiler.

Located within the upper interior of the housing are, in vertical upward succession, a gas burner unit 19, upwardly opening receptacles 2i) overlying the burner ports, an open work grate 21 overlying the receptacles 20 and burner 19, and a bed 22 of refractory or ceramic bodies supported on the grate to be heated by combusted gas delivered through the burner ports 23. These refractory bodies may consist of expanded perlite material, by way of example. As is shown, the receptacles generally designated at 20 are V-shaped in vertical cross section and overlie the ports 23 so as to collect dust, grease and any other substance falling through the refractory bodies and thereby prevent clogging of the ports. Reference to Figs. 2 and 4 will show that the receptacles 20 include two parallel and horizontally elongated receptacles 123 overlying correspondingly horizontally elongated burner stretches 124, and two elongated but relatively shorter receptacles 24 and 25 overlying the ported central and end portions 26 and 27 of the burner and extending between receptacles 123. Gas is delivered to the burner through piping generally designated at 28 in Figs. 2 through 5, that piping including a riser at the front side of the broiler housing front wall 16 and a control valve 29 connected into the riser. A valve control handle 30 is adapted to regulate the amount of gas delivered to seated upon the perforated flanges or shelves 37 of the outer panel unit, the dowels then projecting downwardly through openings 38 in shelves 37 illustrated in Fig. 4. The latter also support a perforated bafile 39 underlying the burner 19 so as to intercept downward heat radiation therefrom and also from the refractory bodies. As shown 1 in Figs. 3 and 4 the burner is also carried by the hori-' zontal flanges 37 of the outer rectangular panel unit 36. Unit 36 is in turn nested within and supportedby, a larger outer rectangular panel unit 40 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as being releasably supported by bracket legs 41 upon the bottom wall of the broiler housing, screws or bolts 42 being provided for this purpose. Flanged crossbrackets 43 extending between opposite sides of the outer panel unit 40 support the flanges 37 of panel unit'36. Flanged brackets 43 also support a removable catchitray 44 extending beneath the perforated baifie 39 so as to catch anything dropping through the perforations of that batfle.

The closed rectangular and nested panel units 32,. 36 and 40 are laterally spaced from one another, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and held in this relation by spacers 45 so as to form vertical passages around the four sides of the firebox and openly communicating between'the lower interior 18 of the housing and the broiler grill 46 overlying the firebox structure. Thus, streams of air entering the lower interior of the housing are adapted to circulate upwardly between the housing and firebox structure and through the laterally spaced panel spaces, minimizing heating of the broiler outer and lower walls.

In this connection, during broiler operation air is drawn into the open space 47 between the bafile 39 and the tray 44 through the open front wall of the panel unit 40 at 48. This air, which subsequently circulates upwardly between the panel units 32, 36 and 40, is kept cool in space 47 by the action of the battle 39 and of the flanges 37 and 34 intercepting downward heat radiation from the firebox structure. A portion of the air in space 47 is adapted to rise through the perforations of the batfie 39 and through the open sides thereof at 49 for combustion with the burner gas in the firebox. The overlying grill 46 is made tiltable for draining grease lengthwise and forwardly along the grill bars by means of the mechanism including a control handle 50, lever 51 pivoted at 52 to accommodate horizontal swinging of the handle about a vertical axis, vertically reciprocable link 53 the upper end of which engages the grill at 54, and a motion transmitting lever pivoted at 56 for converting horizontal swinging of lever 51 to vertical reciprocation of link 53. Handle 50 is accessible through the broiler front wall opening 17 for variably tilting the grill 46, the lever 51 being selectively engageable with notch shoulders at 151 for holding the grill at desired angles of tilt. In this manner, the operator may variably control droppage of grease from the grill onto the hot retractories for creating smoke and flame necessary to char the meat on the grill. Also, excess grease is caused to drain forwardly oil? the grill forward end portion 57 overhanging the grease tray 58 attached to the outer panel unit 40. Since this tray is in the path of upward circulation of cool air in space 59, the grease therein is kept out of direct exposure to the heat of the firebox structure and consequently there is no danger of ignition thereof. Furthermore, this elongated grease tray slopes from its opposite ends, as seen at 60 in Fig. 2, toward its center 61 where an opening 62 is provided for draining grease downwardly through a drain tube 63 projecting forwardly through the housing front wall 16. From this drain tube grease empties into a second tray 64 supported at 65 by the front wall 16 of the housing to be accessible for periodic removal and emptying. Reference to Fig. 4 will show the grill 46 supported by the upper side flanges 146 of the outer panel unit 40 when the grill is dropped to horizontal.

The tray 64, the riser portion of gas pipe 28 and valve control handle 30 are all conveniently housed within the space 66 enclosed by the forwardly projecting box enclosure 67 over the open front of which a grillwork closure 68 extends in a vertical plane. Closure 68 is hinged along its upper edge at 69 to the box structure 67 which has slide fits at 70 to forwardly projecting upper and lower panels 71 and 72 which are in turn attached to the broiler housing. Thus, the box structure 67 is adjustable toward and away from the front wall 16 of the housing in conformance with the particular design of the wooden cabinet structure, indicated at 73, into which the broiler unit is to be built. Access is readily gained to the grease pan 64 and handle 30 by grasping the decorative grill 68 at its lower edge 76 and lifting it upwardly about hinge 69, the grill fitting almost flush with the wooden cabinet work for maximum convenience.

Overlying the top of the cabinet structure 73 and also over the cabinet work 74-at the rear and sides of the broiler unit is a large rectangular protective plate or bezel 75, typically of stainless steel construction, forming a rectangular circular opening 76 within which the grill 46 is received and retained by projections 176 against downward sliding on side flanges 146. Thus, when installed, the broiler is given a builtin appearance by virtue of the overlying relation of plate 65 with the surrounding cabinet structure and the broiler walls. Should a body large enough to cover the grill 46 be placed thereon, it rests upon four rounded projections or buttons 77 outstanding from the top of the grill 46 at its four corners so as to be spaced upwardly from the plate 75, thereby permitting escape of burner gases which otherwise might back up within the broiler unit and flame outwardly through the front opening 17. As will be seen from the entire foregoing discussion, the improved gas fired broiler discussed herein is designed so as to be absolutely safe for installation within wooden cabinet work in a home kitchen.

I claim:

1. An improved gas fired broiler, comprising an upright housing, a firebox structure within the housing including a. substantially horizontally extending gas burner, a bed of ceramic bodies overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, substantially horizontally extending receptacle means directly overlying the burner gas ports and opening upwardly for intercepting droppings from said ceramic bodies, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, and upright panel means between the firebox and housing and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill at the outside of the firebox for circulating streams of relatively cool air upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler.

' 2. An improved gas fired broiler, comprising an upright housing, a firebox structure within the housing including a substantially horizontally extending gas burner, a bed of ceramic bodies overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, substantially horizontally extending receptacle means directly overlying the burner gas ports and opening upwardly for intercepting droppings from said ceramic bodies, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, baflle means underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and upright panel means between the firebox and the upright housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill and at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing iskept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler.

3. An improved gas fired broiler, comprising an up right housing, a firebox structure within the housing including a gas burner, an openwork grill overlying the tirebox structure, bafiie means underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and upright panel means between the firebox and the upright housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill and at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler, a grease receiving tray in the path of said cool air upward circulation, and means for variably tilting said grill so that grease from an edible supported thereon will drain therefrom to collect in said tray within the housing interior and out of direct exposure to the heat of said firebox structure.

4. An improved gas fired broiler, comprising an upright housing, a firebox structure within the housing including a substantially horizontally extending gas burner, a bed of ceramic bodies overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, substantially horizontally extending receptacle means directly overlying the burner gas ports and opening up wardly for intercepting droppings from said ceramic bodies, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, bafile means underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and upright panel means between the firebox and the upright housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill and at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler, the front of said upright housing containing an opening laterally opposite the lower interior thereof, and an upright grill covering said opening at the outer side thereof for passing cool air into the housing.

5. An improved gas fired broiler comprising an upright housing including front, rear and opposite side walls, a firebox structure supported within the housing above the lower interior thereof and including a horizontally elongated gas burner and a bed of refractory bodies overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, horizontally elongated receptacles directly overlying all the burner gas ports and opening upwardly for intercepting droppings from said refractory bodies, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, bafile means directly underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and a plurality of upright panels laterally spaced apart between the firebox and the housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which said receptacles are spaced apart and have V-shaped vertical cross sections so as to divert the burner gas without blocking upward escape thereof.

7. An improved gas fired broiler comprising an upright housing including front, rear and opposite side walls, a firebox structure supported within the housing above the lower interior thereof and including a gas burner and means overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, baffle means directly underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and a plurality of upright panels laterally spaced apart between the firebox and the housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler, a first grease receiving tray in the path of upward cool air circulation within the front interior of the housing, and means for variably tilting said grill so that grease from an edible supported thereon will drain therefrom to collect in said tray within the housing and out of direct exposure to the heat of said firebox structure.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including a second grease receiving tray accessibly located at the outer front of said housing front wall and at a lower level than said first grease tray, said second tray communicating with the first tray for receiving grease therefrom.

9. An improved gas fired broiler comprising an upright housing including front, rear and opposite side walls, a firebox structure supported within the housing above the lower interior thereof and including a gas burner and a bed of refractory bodies overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, baffle means directly underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and a plurality of upright panels laterally spaced apart between the firebox and the housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said overlying grill at the outside of the firebox for circulating upwardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature of the housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler, said upright panels forming inner and outer rectangular panel units, an outer panel unit supporting an inner panel unit nesting therewithin.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the inner panel unit is a liner for the refractory bodies.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 including a grate supporting the refractory bodies and supported by said innermost panel unit.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 in which said panel units include two nested outer panel units one of which supports said inner panel unit nested therewithin.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 in which said bafiie means is supported by at least one of said outer panel units and is perforated to pass air upwardly to said burner.

14. An improved gas fired broiler comprising an upright housing including front, rear and opposite side walls, a firebox structure supported within the housing above the lower interior thereof and including a gas burner and means overlying the burner for radiating upwardly heat received from combustion of the burner gas, an openwork grill overlying the firebox structure, baffle means directly underlying the firebox structure and overlying the lower interior of the housing for intercepting downward heat radiation, and a plurality of upright panels laterally spaced apart between the firebox and the housing walls and forming therewith passages openly communicating between the lower interior of the housing and said over lying grill at the outside of the firebox for circulating up 7 wardly streams of relatively cool air entering the lower interior of the housing and passing upwardly between the housing and firebox structure whereby the temperature -ofthe housing is kept well below that of the firebox during continuous operation of the broiler, said grill overlying the firebox having spaced'cross members for support :ing an edible and said grill having upward projections outstanding from the upper surface thereof outside the boundary of said cross rods for seating -a body covering face, thereby to allow upward escape of burner gases through the References Cited in the tile of this patent the grill .in upwardly spaced :relation from the grill sur- 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Noreck Nov. .28, 1911 Davis Aug. 5 "1924 Soults June 9, 1931 Volks Aug. 26, 1941 

